West Point parishioners explore vision, goals WEST POINT — Parish leaders at Immaculate Conception Parish, completed a six hour training program on Jan. 20 - 21, led by Father David O’Connor, pastor of Assumption and St. Mary parishes in Natchez. Participants included members of the pastoral council and the parish’s working committees.
Those attending included: Kathy and Jack Elliot, Theresa Jolly, Tommy McTaggart, Steve Mitchener, Paul Caskey (council president), Cole Knighton, Luke Lummus, Phillip Diminio, Ray Lucas, Allen Shirley, Karen Shipley, Sue Thigpen, Kathy Knighton, Barbara Elliot, and Virginia Jackson.
According to Father Walt Brown, Immaculate Conception pastor, “The purposes of the training program were to explore the visions and goals of the parish for 2008 and beyond; to examine the role and nature of the pastoral council and committees; to seek ways of sharing responsibility for ministry in the parish; and to promote spiritual growth among all parish members.”
The program included a review of theological perspectives relating to church ministry at the present time, the orientation of the council members, the establishment of goals for one year, three years and six years, and the activation of working committees that were considered to be necessary for the effective operation of the council.
A new organizational chart was agreed on with five working committees – liturgy, religious education, community service, parish life and building/property maintenance.
One year goals were agreed upon: to expand the adult religious education program, to increase the number of liturgical ministers, to develop the liturgical music program and to improve the CYO organization.
Father Brown said, “I am very happy with the enthusiasm of the participants, and especially the decision of the participants to meet within a week to further develop what began at the training program.”
Kathy Elliot, who works with the parish’s youth program, commented, “I am very optimistic the new council and committee structures will help us attract new people into parish leadership.”
The three year goals, to be achieved by January 2011, included outreach to the Hispanic community, prepare lay people for ministry in the absence of a priest, to develop the Sunday School program for younger children, to create a greater sense of belonging to the parish for all parishioners, and to strengthen the social events of the parish.
Paul Caskey, the council president, said, “I learned we the laity are responsible for the ministry of the church here, and that our skills and experience are needed and can be used for the ministry of the parish.”
Six year goals, to be accomplished by January 2014, would include a well informed lay leadership, increased opportunities of religious education for all age groups, a parish with strong outreach to new members, inactive parishioners and Hispanic people.
A newly elected member of the pastoral council and also a member of the board of supervisors, Steve Lummussaid said, “We have many great people in our parish, and I hope the new insights we have gained from this two-part training, will help us become a vibrant church community.”
Phillip Diminio, who attended only the Monday evening program, said, “My only regret is that I missed the Sunday evening program. I have learned so much about the administration of the parish, and I intend to use my experience in business to make our parish more active and to draw more people into active involvement.
